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Firefighters hold the line as blazes abound

<div>The City’s Fire & Rescue Service is in the midst of a very busy period, with numerous informal settlement fires in recent days, as well as the ongoing efforts to subdue the massive vegetation fire still raging in Simon’s Town.<br></div>

<div>Since the beginning of December, the Fire Service has responded to more than 2 500 incidents, including fires and special service calls like motor vehicle accidents and trauma cases.</div><div><br></div><div>Of these, 60% (1 500) have been vegetation fires.</div><div><br></div><div>It’s also an increase year on year, where the corresponding period had just over 2 000 fires, with nearly 1 100 of these being vegetation fires.<br></div><div><br></div><div><span><p><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/fire%201.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:802px;" /></p></span>I want to commend our firefighters for being on the front lines to defend lives and property – in spite of the many challenges.</div><div><br></div><div>Each incident, whether a vegetation fire or a structural fire, comes with its own complexities and the City remains committed to serving communities across the metropole.</div><div><br></div><div>Currently, firefighting efforts continue in Simon’s Town, involving City staff but also numerous other agencies. </div><div><br></div><div>Staff fought throughout the night to protect homes and other structures, while some precautionary evacuations took place in the vicinity of Barnard and Victory Street.</div><div><br></div><div>Those who were evacuated have started moving back to their homes.<br></div><div><br></div><div><span><p><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/fire%202.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:802px;" /></p></span>As things stand, more than 200 firefighters are still on the ground in Simon’s Town, along with a fleet of City firefighting equipment including 20 pumps, four water tankers and four skids.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition, the Table Mountain National Park has five tankers and one skid on site, along with various ground teams. </div><div><br></div><div>The fire is not yet contained, but the situation is more manageable, and five aerial support craft returned early this morning to assist with water-bombing efforts.<br></div><div><br></div><div><span><p><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/fire%203.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:802px;" /></p></span>I applaud not only the firefighters from the City, but those from TMNP, NCC, WOF, VWS and DRM volunteers.</div><div><br></div><div>While the cause of the fire is not yet known, I want to urge residents and visitors to be cautious at all times.</div><div><br></div><div>Residents are reminded to phone 021 480 77 00 from a cell phone and 107 from a landline to report any emergency.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><strong>End</strong><br></div><p><br></p>

2023-12-19T22:00:00Z

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